Overview

• The Berlin State Criminal Police Office conducted searches at four residences and a law firm in connection with COVID-19 aid fraud investigations.
• Authorities are investigating four suspects: a 53-year-old lawyer, a 35-year-old lawyer, a 35-year-old man, and a 54-year-old woman.
• The 53-year-old lawyer is accused of filing at least 80 fraudulent applications between 2020 and 2022, involving 66 businesses and individuals.
• Approximately €1.8 million of the €7.5 million in fraudulent applications were disbursed, according to investigators.
• Evidence suggests the suspects knowingly submitted false information and recruited ineligible applicants to exploit the pandemic relief program.